It's time for week 4 of the NFL season - and that's usually a time where you step back and re-evaluate what has been happening so far in the league. What has gone the way you expected? What has been unexpected surprises and disappointments?
That brings us to Harbin - the northernmost "big" city in China, and the home of the Ice festival in January. We have been told every year that the Ice festival was not to be missed - and so this past January, we made the trip. Beforehand, we were honestly worried about it. It would be cold - 10 to 15 below.
And the wind! Oh, that wind chill would be 30 to 40 below. It gave us the impression that you could only be inside for 15 minutes. Bob Turk's voice was in my head - "don't be exposed for too long out there!" And that was just a reminder for Baltimore weather!
This is the closest I have ever been to Sibera - and we would go outside with kids? To see what? Mounds of ice lit up like a Lite Brite? How impressive could this be? Well, the trip was an unexpected surprise. We bundled up as much as we could the first night. With temperatures hovering around -15 C (about 0), we stayed outside for about 45 minutes in a public plaza looking at some mini ice scupltures. The Pizza Hut for dinner certainly helped warm us up. The next day was the "real" thing. We would be outside for 60, 90 minutes at a time - then a break - then do it again. 3 exposure sessions.
The first session, in the morning, was to the Siberian Tiger Park. This was neat - if only to see the solid frozen pee of some white lines frozen up against a solitary tree in his cage.
The second session was to visit the snow sculptures - which were amazing. 25 feet tall, 80-100 feet long- just works of art that were showcases. We stayed outside for about 90 minutes,playing in the snow (at noon, the warmest part of the day)....and had the scariest ride of my life in an inner tube ride down an ice hill------with very little in terms of safety precautions on the side. Don't start rocking this tube, Martin!
The last session was for the main ice festival. We got there about 4 pm - right at dusk - and the temperature was about 0 F when we started....and got colder. However, there were so many activities for everyone. A small maze, with more ice slides. Weird games such as "spin the acorn on the ice" and "3rd grade schoolchair racing". Drinking Harbin Ice Beer in an igloo. 40 foot high slides where there was no person in charge, so every slide ended in a 5 person pile up at the bottom of the slide. (No matter - since you are wearing 8 layers of clothing, it's like smashing bean bags together). We stayed until about 5:30, mesmerized by the ice and the colors. Only til then did we finally feel the effects of the cold, now about -10, -15 F. All in all, a wonderful long weekend away, and an unexpected surprise.
Kind of like Brian Hoyer, no? We started the season hoping the Browns had a solid defense and a balanced offense, with Trent having plenty of carries and being used in the backfield as a weapon on short passes.
Now? We've got Ken O'Brien junior back there ready to heave it 55, 60 times, with a one-legged running back. My, how things change in 3 weeks. We will see if this is a fluke, or real talent over the next 3 games, all at home.
Allow me to dream a bit (which I will, since I am on vacation right now in Cebu) - if we can steal this game vs. Cinci (where we always play Marvin well, except when we forget to break the huddle), then we have Buffalo (Thu night) and Detroit, two teams that are not great on the road........
There is a bar here open 24 hours; I will be sitting in there at 2 am with the drunks at the resort with my Joe Thomas jersey.
On to the games:
Buf 23, Bal 20. Bal won last week at home by gifts from the Texans. The Ravens won't get those on the road.
Det 31, Chi 24. I trust in the Lions at home; the Bears are lucky to be 3-0 after two close wins vs. Cinci and Min.
Sea 26, Hou 23. Can't pick against the Seahawks until they actually, you know, lose.
Ind 23, Jax 13. The Colts will play ball control on offense,and the Jags have no weapons.
KC 20, NYG 16. Are we sure KC is good?
Min 24, Pit 13. Minnesota had a good offensive showing in 3 games - vs. the Lions (on the road), Bears, and yes, teh Browns. So they can score points. And Their good defensive line is going up against the swiss cheese Pittsbrugh O line. I see Ben running for his life a lot back there.
TB 27, Az 24. I don't know who will win, but I do see a lot of turnovers (good Az Defense, and Carson Palmer as Az QB) - which means points.
Ten 20, NYJ 17. I think every prediction site will pick a 20-17 score in this game.
Den 38, Phi 23. How will Chip Kelly devise a plan for this game?
Was 24, Oak 13. I'm not impressed with Oakland, and this is a must-win, desperation position for the Skins. This is a perfect time for a RGIII breakout game.
SD 27, Dal 20. These outdoor games against good defenses are the ones the Cowboys almost always lose.
Atl 31, NE 20. Let's review the QBs that the Patriots have played. EJ Manuel's first start. Geno Smith. Josh Freeman. Are we sure the Pats D is good?
NO 31, Mia 21. A great test for the Dolphins D.
Best bets: 14 of them. Another bad week last week: 5-9-1; season total: 17-28-2.
Buf +3
Det -3
Chi/Det over 48
Sea/Hou over 41 1/2
Ind/Jax under 42
Min +2 1/2
NYG/KC under 43 1/2
Az/TB over 40
Den -11
Was -3
Was/Oak under 44 1/2
SD +1 1/2
Atl -2 1/2
NO -6 1/2
Supercontest picks: Last week: 2-2-1; overall: 4-9-2
Buf +3
Min +2 1/2
Was -3
SD +2 1/2
Atl -2 1/2
And the wind! Oh, that wind chill would be 30 to 40 below. It gave us the impression that you could only be inside for 15 minutes. Bob Turk's voice was in my head - "don't be exposed for too long out there!" And that was just a reminder for Baltimore weather!
This is the closest I have ever been to Sibera - and we would go outside with kids? To see what? Mounds of ice lit up like a Lite Brite? How impressive could this be? Well, the trip was an unexpected surprise. We bundled up as much as we could the first night. With temperatures hovering around -15 C (about 0), we stayed outside for about 45 minutes in a public plaza looking at some mini ice scupltures. The Pizza Hut for dinner certainly helped warm us up. The next day was the "real" thing. We would be outside for 60, 90 minutes at a time - then a break - then do it again. 3 exposure sessions.
The first session, in the morning, was to the Siberian Tiger Park. This was neat - if only to see the solid frozen pee of some white lines frozen up against a solitary tree in his cage.
The second session was to visit the snow sculptures - which were amazing. 25 feet tall, 80-100 feet long- just works of art that were showcases. We stayed outside for about 90 minutes,playing in the snow (at noon, the warmest part of the day)....and had the scariest ride of my life in an inner tube ride down an ice hill------with very little in terms of safety precautions on the side. Don't start rocking this tube, Martin!
The last session was for the main ice festival. We got there about 4 pm - right at dusk - and the temperature was about 0 F when we started....and got colder. However, there were so many activities for everyone. A small maze, with more ice slides. Weird games such as "spin the acorn on the ice" and "3rd grade schoolchair racing". Drinking Harbin Ice Beer in an igloo. 40 foot high slides where there was no person in charge, so every slide ended in a 5 person pile up at the bottom of the slide. (No matter - since you are wearing 8 layers of clothing, it's like smashing bean bags together). We stayed until about 5:30, mesmerized by the ice and the colors. Only til then did we finally feel the effects of the cold, now about -10, -15 F. All in all, a wonderful long weekend away, and an unexpected surprise.
Kind of like Brian Hoyer, no? We started the season hoping the Browns had a solid defense and a balanced offense, with Trent having plenty of carries and being used in the backfield as a weapon on short passes.
Now? We've got Ken O'Brien junior back there ready to heave it 55, 60 times, with a one-legged running back. My, how things change in 3 weeks. We will see if this is a fluke, or real talent over the next 3 games, all at home.
Allow me to dream a bit (which I will, since I am on vacation right now in Cebu) - if we can steal this game vs. Cinci (where we always play Marvin well, except when we forget to break the huddle), then we have Buffalo (Thu night) and Detroit, two teams that are not great on the road........
There is a bar here open 24 hours; I will be sitting in there at 2 am with the drunks at the resort with my Joe Thomas jersey.
On to the games:
Buf 23, Bal 20. Bal won last week at home by gifts from the Texans. The Ravens won't get those on the road.
Det 31, Chi 24. I trust in the Lions at home; the Bears are lucky to be 3-0 after two close wins vs. Cinci and Min.
Sea 26, Hou 23. Can't pick against the Seahawks until they actually, you know, lose.
Ind 23, Jax 13. The Colts will play ball control on offense,and the Jags have no weapons.
KC 20, NYG 16. Are we sure KC is good?
Min 24, Pit 13. Minnesota had a good offensive showing in 3 games - vs. the Lions (on the road), Bears, and yes, teh Browns. So they can score points. And Their good defensive line is going up against the swiss cheese Pittsbrugh O line. I see Ben running for his life a lot back there.
TB 27, Az 24. I don't know who will win, but I do see a lot of turnovers (good Az Defense, and Carson Palmer as Az QB) - which means points.
Ten 20, NYJ 17. I think every prediction site will pick a 20-17 score in this game.
Den 38, Phi 23. How will Chip Kelly devise a plan for this game?
Was 24, Oak 13. I'm not impressed with Oakland, and this is a must-win, desperation position for the Skins. This is a perfect time for a RGIII breakout game.
SD 27, Dal 20. These outdoor games against good defenses are the ones the Cowboys almost always lose.
Atl 31, NE 20. Let's review the QBs that the Patriots have played. EJ Manuel's first start. Geno Smith. Josh Freeman. Are we sure the Pats D is good?
NO 31, Mia 21. A great test for the Dolphins D.
Best bets: 14 of them. Another bad week last week: 5-9-1; season total: 17-28-2.
Buf +3
Det -3
Chi/Det over 48
Sea/Hou over 41 1/2
Ind/Jax under 42
Min +2 1/2
NYG/KC under 43 1/2
Az/TB over 40
Den -11
Was -3
Was/Oak under 44 1/2
SD +1 1/2
Atl -2 1/2
NO -6 1/2
Supercontest picks: Last week: 2-2-1; overall: 4-9-2
Buf +3
Min +2 1/2
Was -3
SD +2 1/2
Atl -2 1/2
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